Inclusive Education in India: Issues, Challenges and Prospects

Abstract

Inclusive education is a process of strengthening the capacity of the education system to reach out all learners. It involves restructuring the culture, policies and practices in schools so that they can respond to the diversity of students in concerned region. It is one of the most effective ways by which we can promote an inclusive and tolerant society. Inclusive education is a strategy of making education universalized irrespective of any disability within the learner and to maintain equity in the society. It accentuates that children with special needs can be included in holistic platform without any kind of isolation. Avoiding the option of segregation and making them confined within the boundaries of special schools, experts of inclusive education are advocating an inclusion of children with special needs in to the common schools. We only then can claim the provision of equal opportunity particularly in education.  However, for achieving success in inclusive education in India we are facing several obstacles and challenges. Many problems such as, lack of positive attitude among teachers, non-inclusive curriculum, lack of resources, infrastructural problems, unawareness among parents, irregular plans, improper execution of policies are creating hurdles for extending the concept of inclusive education in India. In paper an attempt has been made to put focus on issues, challenges, and prospects regarding inclusive education.

Keywords: Inclusion, Education, Inclusive Education, Issues, perspectives